Tiger Woods opened his 2014 season with a disappointing performance at Torrey Pines, a course where he has previously won eight tournaments, including the 2008 U.S. Open. After he shot a 72 on the much more difficult South Course, which in his own words was “not too bad,” he headed over the North Course where players historically shoot their best rounds. Woods shot a lackluster 71, placing him at this point ‘one under par’, barely making the 36-hole cut.
Day three at Torrey Pines placed Woods in a position where his game required an outstanding round in order to survive the competitive field closing in on the final days of competition. Unfortunately for Woods, he was scheduled to begin his round on the South Course, which created even more of a challenge for him to succeed. Saturday was a day Woods would like to forget. He tied his worst ever 18-hole score as a professional golfer on American soil, as he shot a 79 on the first 18 and finished his second round with a score of 81, the same unexceptional score he shot at the 2002 British Open.
Woods’ three-day combined total score of 222, six over par, resulted in his failure to make the 54-hole cut, a policy only implemented when the field of players is too large at the end of 36 holes. After a disappointing week on a course he has dominated over the years, Woods flew 8,000 miles to compete in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, an event where he previously experienced two successful victories. Following a solid opening round of 68, an adequate four under par, Woods failed to back it up and shot a disappointing 73, one over par; leaving him eight shots back on the leaderboard. Day three was as Woods described, a round that “was an easy day to get to ten (under par)”. Woods did not perform as he hoped, as he shot only a six under par for the tournament; he ended the tournament tied for 41st. Although this was not Woods’ best performance, it certainly was an improvement from the week before at Torrey Pines. Rumors from various sources said Woods will skip the WGC-Accenture Match play, an event he usually participates in. Woods’ next event, most likely at the Honda Classic, Feb. 27- Mar. 2 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
In other golf news, Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open according to pgatour.com due to reported “muscle pain” in his back. However, Mickelson was able to compete in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, an competition he won last year.
Sergio Garcia enjoyed his first European Tour win since late 2011 at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, while Stephen Gallacher successfully defended his title at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Gallacher is the first player in the 25-year history of the event to successfully defend his title. The unpredictability of who will reign victorious keeps us tuned in and hopeful for either our own favorite player to clinch the title or for an unexpected win from the back of the pack.
Dylan Margolin can be reached at dylan.margolin@spartans.ut.edu.